Can a Fan Have Two Favourite Teams?

By: Garret Kryzanowski

Before this blog can really begin I do need to clarify that I am asking and answering if a fan can have two or multiple favorite teams in the same sport and league. I need to make this distinction because obviously you can have a favourite NFL, MLB, NBA team and so on and so forth. However, can a person have two favourite teams in the same league? Let's find out.

The idea for this blog came to my mind when the Los Angeles Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh. The former head coach of my favourite NCAA team the Michigan Wolverines. To be honest I knew that Harbaugh was leaving not just because he had won a National Championship but because of the looming threat of a possible NCAA punishment. So when he left I wasn't mad or anything. I was happy that he had won a National Championship and that was enough for me. Fast forward a couple weeks he was named the head coach of the Chargers and a thought crossed my mind. Should I be a fan of the Chargers?

For anyone that doesn't know I am a Baltimore Ravens fan and nothing else. I support my friends and families teams when they're playing unless it impacts the Ravens in any way shape or form. For perspective, my girlfriend's team, the Miami Dolphins, was playing a game that on the surface had no impact on the Ravens. But it did. The Ravens were the number one seed at the time and if the Dolphins won they would take the spot over so in my head I rooted against the Dolphins (this may get me in trouble). So I truly have loyalty to only the Ravens. But this is Jim Harbaugh, former head coach of the Wolverines. A man I had defended in group chats and on twitter for 10 years. So what should I do? The answer? I'll follow the Chargers on instagram and hope he does well unless he's playing the Ravens or his game has an affect on the Ravens. Basically, I would treat him like my family and loved ones. Hope he succeeds, until it affects the Ravens, then I hope he fails.

So can a fan have two favourite teams in the same league?

In my mind this is a very black and white question with one true outlier. The answer in my mind is simple, NO! You can't have multiple favourite teams. A true fan cannot even fathom having multiple favourite teams because it would go against every fibre of their fandom. Cheering for multiple teams would tear me apart as a person because it would go against everything I was raised to be. A true fan does two things. They create an us against the world mentality and they use the term "we" to describe their favourite team. They don't root for anyone else. Period. You can hope for other people to be happy unless it affects you. For example my mom is a Kansas City Chiefs fan and she is happy about the Super Bowl. Am I happy for her? Nope, not one bit. That's true fandom. Is that crazy? Outlandish? Bad? Maybe, but I don't care because I am a true fan. Like I said, this question is black and white to me.

Yet, I did mention an outlier or expectation to this. So what is it?

If you have family or loved ones that play pro sports you can. That is it. That is the only exception. I don't want to linger too much on this because it is just an exception and a rarity. Basically, if your family plays for a pro sports team you can root for multiple because it is family. That is it. Nothing else.

I know I didn't spend too much time on that point, and that's because in my life it plays no relevance. I am blogging so obviously I am no pro athlete or really that close honestly. I digress though. Fandom is important to me so this topic can become a touchy subject because I hate the casual fans. Nothing is more annoying than when the Toronto Blue Jays are decent and all of a sudden every person I see is a Blue Jays fan chirping me because I am not. It makes my blood boil. The reason I am bringing this up is because I believe that a casual fan and someone with multiple favourite teams in one sport are one in the same. It is a pet peeve that makes my skin crawl and gives me uncontrollable, unnecessary anger.

Maybe I care too much or need to just relax. Perhaps. But I won't change who I am.